All you need to know about Christmas in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh. Enjoy beautiful Christmas stories and memories written by friends from Chandler's Ford. Find more Chandler's Ford upcoming events here.
As a child in Chandler’s Ford, Christmas was a special time for my family and me, albeit mostly during WW2, as I was 5½ at the outbreak.
I was, to all intents and purposes, an only child (my sister, Jean, died from Scarlet Fever aged 7, 4 years before I was born), so, I guess, understandably, I was ‘spoilt’ (so I was often told). [Read more…] about Christmas Then and Now
Reading Andy Vining’s recent article, Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm, sends me back to the 1950s and 60s, when my step-mother, Dad and I lived in the bungalows in the fourth service road (nowadays the third one!), on Hursley Road.
We looked from our back garden across the field to Hiltonbury Farmhouse where, in the 1960s, Andy was milking the cows and delivering milk. [Read more…] about Oh Happy Days! Fond Christmas Memories in Chandler’s Ford 1950s – 1960s
I am now going back to the 1962/3 before I was married, it was often very cold at this time of year. I used to get up at around 5.00 am to get the cows in for milking as we had yet to build the Cubicle House to keep the cows inside.
Sometimes when it was particularly cold and wet we kept the cows overnight in the cowshed but there was only room for thirty six of them in the cowshed so some had to stay under the lean-too to keep out of the weather, usually about 10 to twelve were the unlucky ones, usually the ones giving the least milk! [Read more…] about Farming in the Winter and Christmas at Hiltonbury Farm
I popped into Beacon Café on Hursley Road on Tuesday morning and was surprised to see the Christmas Café was in full swing!
Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church (SO53 2FT) runs on the first and the third Tuesday of every month, from 10am to 12pm.
Judith Bird from the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford started Beacon Café in April this year. [Read more…] about Feeling Lonely? Welcome to Beacon Café at St. Boniface Church
Yes, I know that when it comes to Christmas, I am a miserable old fart.
This year I will be 7,000 miles from Chandler’s Ford; will I be unhappy because…? [Read more…] about Christmas in Sri Lanka: 9 Things in England I’ll Miss This Christmas
Here is the 2015 Selwood Christmas Tree on Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford.
The glow of the Christmas tree has brightened the sky in Chandler’s ford for the past three weeks. [Read more…] about Selwood Christmas Tree in Chandler’s Ford 2015
The Christmas lights will be switched on in Chandler’s Ford this Thursday.
Local traders from the Central Precinct have organised a friendly ‘Christmas light switching on’ ceremony for Thursday the 10th of December 2015, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Central Precinct: Christmas Lights Switching On: Thursday 10 December 2015
St. Boniface Church throws open its doors for a Christmas Tree Festival.
Twenty imaginatively decorated Christmas trees now adorn the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford, on Hursley Road, SO53 2FT. [Read more…] about Christmas Tree Festival at Chandler’s Ford St. Boniface Church
Have you been to the new Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market yet?
The next market is on Saturday the 12th of December 2015 from 10am to 2pm, on Brownhill Road, at Age Concern Centre in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about NEW! Chandler’s Ford Produce and Craft Market
It’s the Charity Christmas Card week, from 15th – 22nd November 2015.
Deputy Mayor Eastleigh Councillor Des Scott opened Chandler’s Ford’s 42nd Joint Charities Christmas Market last Saturday (14th November 2015). [Read more…] about Uplifting: Chandler’s Ford 42nd Joint Charities Christmas Market 2015
A few days ago my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting up with Janet Williams and her husband at the Hiltonbury Pub, my old home, and we discussed the way Chandler’s Ford had grown over the years.
In the entrance hall of the pub there is a photograph of Hiltonbury taken from the air in about 1974 and Janet suggested that I took a photograph of it and put it on the blog with some descriptions of some of the buildings in the photographs so here goes. [Read more…] about History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse
Do you remember The Precinct Gift Centre?
I miss this little gift shop very much.
The Precinct Gift Centre was loved by many. It held many local people’s childhood memories.
It was my favourite gift shop. Sadly, the shop closed in February 2006 after 16 years [Read more…] about Merry Christmas: From Good Neighbours Brian And Suzette Matthews
What I like most about Christmas Day
Is listening out for old Santa’s sleigh.
I hear the reindeer’s hoof
Land so hard on my roof.
At least that keeps the burglars at bay! [Read more…] about Limerick – Christmas
Is your house featured in this series of Chandler’s Ford’s Christmas pictures?
Eastleigh Football Club’s distinguished photographer Tony Smith has been busy lately.
Tony has captured stunning Christmas light displays in Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury and Valley Park for readers of Chandler’s Ford Today. [Read more…] about All Is Bright: Christmas Decorations in Chandler’s Ford 2014
This morning, my son and I attended the Christingle service at St. Boniface Church as our Christmas tradition.
It was a beautiful service led by Reverend Christine Whitehead. One hundred Christingles were given out to children and their families.
Linda Read got her daughters and a few volunteers to help prepare for Christingles, [Read more…] about Christingle Service Chandler’s Ford St. Boniface Church 2014
This is an important time of the year for everyone, not just for Christians.
Neolithic man recognised the winter solstice, the time when the sun stands still. It was a desperate time, cold, dark with food stores running low.
The sun hovers close to the southern horizon at dawn and appears to cease its daily regression towards [Read more…] about Winter Solstice
Stand-up comedian Paul Kerensa, well-known for his scriptwriting for Miranda and Not Going Out, came to St. Martin in the Wood Church in Hiltingbury last weekend for an evening of comedy and carols.
Performing to a packed church on 13th December (Saturday), Paul and his friends, [Read more…] about Comedian Paul Kerensa Brought Comedy And Carols To Chandler’s Ford
It was Christmas Eve 1944; my sister and I had been packed off to bed with the warning common to all children that if we were not good Father Christmas would not visit. I remember how dark it was in the house with the blackout curtains.
Our house, in Sheffield, had a special role to play in World War II. We had a telephone. [Read more…] about Christmas 70 Years Ago
The term ‘carol’, as generally used, includes some items that appear in hymnbooks and are sung by congregations – such as Away in a manger and Once in royal David’s city.
The term is also used sometimes for items that are not congregational hymns.
Some would not normally form part of a church service – such as We wish you a happy Christmas or Past three o’clock. [Read more…] about Christmas Carol? Christmas Hymn?
I always start to feel that Christmas is getting near when the town centre gets dark before the shops close. So what do I remember of Christmases as a child (apart from the dark high street)?
Mum was very strict on the time when decorations could go up – not before the start of the school holidays. But my sisters and I would often (at least when we were old enough) be trusted to decorate the tree. Except [Read more…] about My Favourite Childhood Christmas Memories in a Village
